The Thaw

Here’s a group of young Christians who are extremely concerned about the plight of those less fortunate; the poor, the widowed and orphaned, the system that breeds inequality and justifies an oppressive class structure; and also the militarization of American society and the culture of violence that pervades our country and …

Just kidding. They can’t force everyone in their schools to pray along with them and they’re dramatically upset about that fact.

I do have some sympathy. The rulings on the establishment clause have been inconsistent, which makes it difficult to draw the line between religious expressions that are protected free exercise and those which are the prohibited establishments of religion by a government representative. And this confusion trickles down to school boards and administrators who are often half-educated in the interpretation of the First Amendment anyway. It’s understandable that kids can wind up with the wrong idea about what is allowed and what isn’t.

But much of what they’re saying is just wrong:

“Why can’t I pray in school?”

You can, you just have to allow everyone else the same right.

“Why do I have to check my religion at the door?”

You don’t; believe how you want to believe and permit everyone else to do likewise.